8-Tracks and Open-Reels: Who’s Got ‘Em and Whatcha Got?

@oldhvymec:   Ahh the good old days when we could drink and fix anything--ok, maybe not well but make it work.  Up until about 10 years ago i kept a Realistic 8 track player in my system just because i had a bunch of 8 track tapes i liked--i disagree with MC that the sound quality was the worst--it wasn't nearly as bad as most cassettes--but i do agree the mechanism was a crazy hassle.  I still have two R to R decks--an Akai GX-265D and a Sony TC-880 which i sent in for refurbishment almost a year ago and still haven't got a due date--i loved R to R solely b/c i could record a vinyl album once and keep it pristine and play R to R endlessly at parties.  Convenience mostly- the TT was always the best.

If you recorded your own cassettes then yes, better than 8 track--but IMO prerecorded 8T better than most prerecorded cassettes mainly b/c of tape speed.  I have cassettes recorded on Nak cr-4A which is still in my system but the tapes haven't really held up over the past 40 years--my RtoR tapes have held up well and i still enjoy putting on a loop occasionally and re-living the old party days--if i recorded at 3 3/4 i could fit up to 6 albums on a reversible tape--but that's not something you sit and listen -- just crank while you putter around -- serious listening always takes me back to the vinyl version from which i made the tape

@undefined:  Who is the "independent record label that releases only on open reel tape" ?